Few procedures take your smile to new heights of beauty quite like porcelain veneers do, and at Alpine Family Dental of Kalispell, Montana you can rest assured that your veneers will look natural and fit your unique features to a “T.”
What are porcelain veneers?
Veneers are thin layers of dental ceramic (porcelain) prepared and designed by dentists. Once each veneer has been perfectly prepared, it is applied to the front surfaces of cosmetically “imperfect” teeth. After the veneers are secured, these cosmetic imperfections are covered up and no longer visible when you smile.
What imperfections can you treat?
Tooth enamel is stronger than skeletal bone. However, it can become worn or damaged over time due to the aging process, chronic teeth grinding, and smoking. This damage can show up on our teeth as chips, cracks, stubborn discoloration, ever-growing gaps and spacing issues, and irregularities in the shape and size of the teeth. These flaws can be effectively camouflaged with veneers; however, some cracks and wear may require treatment if they weaken the affected teeth. In these cases, we can treat vulnerable teeth with restorative dentistry procedures and interventions.
How do you design and prepare veneers?
Our dentists spend a lot of time getting to know your smile and its unique features. We will also discuss your personal preferences and goals. All of this information is accounted for when planning your veneer treatment. In order to create veneers that look natural and blend in beautifully with the rest of your smile and face, we must identify the right color/shade as well as other characteristics and nuances of your teeth.
In addition to preparing the veneers, we must prepare the natural tooth structure. A very small amount of natural enamel is removed to ensure today’s ultra-thin veneers fit on top of the tooth properly. Any time tooth enamel is altered in some way, there is a risk of sensitivity; however, we minimize these risks due to the highly conservative and tooth-preserving nature of modern veneers. So, little[ML3] to no anesthesia may be required to support your utmost comfort.
How do you secure the veneers?
While every patient’s experience with treatment is unique, we generally apply temporary veneers to support the health, safety, and appearance of your teeth while our lab prepares your permanent veneers. Once the permanent veneers have been expertly made to your precise and unique specifications, you return to Alpine Family Dental. The temporaries are removed, and the permanent veneers are secured using advanced techniques and bonding agents to ensure the strongest grip between the teeth and porcelain. During this visit, we will also make even the slightest adjustments and evaluate for things like your bite or how your treated teeth come together when you close your mouth.
The journey to a more beautiful smile doesn’t end there; it is a process. Our team in Kalispell, MT works closely with you to keep your teeth and dental work in top shape. To find out more, and to have your specific questions answered, schedule a consultation by calling us at (406) 393-8877 today.
